Divisions of the Gatekeepers

26 For the divisions of the gatekeepers: Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. ² Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, ³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. ⁴ Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, ⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God had blessed him. ⁶ Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who ruled over the house of their father, for they were courageous men of ability. ⁷ The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were courageous and able men, Elihu and Semachiah. ⁸ All these were sons of Obed-edom [in whose house the ark was kept], they and their sons and relatives, strong and able men for the service—sixty-two from Obed-edom.^{(A) 9} Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, eighteen courageous men. ¹⁰ Also Hosah, one of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first and chief (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first), ¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; the sons and relatives of Hosah were thirteen in all.

¹² To these divisions of the gatekeepers, the chief men, were given duties, like their relatives, to minister in the house of the Lord. ¹³ They cast lots, the small (younger) and great (older) alike, in accordance with their fathers’ households, for every gate. ¹⁴ The lot for the east [gates] fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the north [gates]. ¹⁵ To Obed-edom [it came out] for the south [gates], and the storehouse was allotted to his sons. ¹⁶ To Shuppim and Hosah [the lot fell] for the west [gates], by the gate of Shallecheth, on the ascending highway, division by division. ¹⁷ On the east were six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and two by two at the storehouse. ¹⁸ At the ^[a]colonnade on the west side [of the outer court of the temple] there were four at the road and two at the colonnade. ¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.

Keepers of the Treasure

²⁰ Of the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts. ²¹ The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.

²² The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the Lord. ²³ Of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites: ²⁴ Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was supervisor over the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives by Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth. ²⁶ This Shelomoth and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts which King David, the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. ²⁷ From spoil won in battles they dedicated gifts to maintain and repair the house of the Lord. ²⁸ Also all that Samuel the seer had dedicated, and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, this was in the care of Shelomoth and his relatives.

Outside Duties

²⁹ Of the Izharites: Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to outside duties for Israel, as administrators and judges. ³⁰ Of the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, were in charge of the affairs of Israel west of the Jordan, for all the work of the Lord and the service of the king. ³¹ Of the Hebronites: Jerijah was the chief (these Hebronites were examined according to their descendants and fathers’ households in the fortieth [and final] year of David’s reign, and men of courage and ability were found among them at Jazer in Gilead) ³² and Jerijah’s relatives, 2,700 capable men, were heads of fathers’ households; and King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for everything pertaining to God and to the king.

Commanders of the Army

27 This is the list of the sons (descendants) of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the year, each division numbering 24,000:

² Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were 24,000. ³ He was descended from Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. ⁴ Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth was the chief officer; and in his division were 24,000. ⁵ The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were 24,000. ⁶ This is the Benaiah who was the mighty man of the thirty and was in charge of the thirty; and Ammizabad his son was over his division. ⁷ The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were 24,000. ⁸ The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were 24,000. ⁹ The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were 24,000. ¹⁰ The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000. ¹¹ The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000. ¹² The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjamite; and in his division were 24,000. ¹³ The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai from Netophah of the Zerahites; and in his division were 24,000. ¹⁴ The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were 24,000. ¹⁵ The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were 24,000.

Chief Officers of the Tribes

¹⁶ Now in charge of the tribes of Israel [were the following]: chief officer of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; ¹⁷ of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; of Aaron, Zadok; ¹⁸ of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; ¹⁹ of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; ²⁰ of the Ephraimites, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; ²¹ of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; ²² of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. ²³ But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, for the Lord had said he would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census but did not finish; and because of this, [God’s] wrath came on Israel, and the number was not recorded in the chronicles of King David.

Various Overseers

²⁵ Azmaveth the son of Adiel was in charge of the king’s storerooms; and Jonathan the son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the country, in the cities, in the villages, and in the towers. ²⁶ Ezri the son of Chelub was in charge of those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil. ²⁷ Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards; Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars. ²⁸ Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and ^[b]sycamore trees in Shephelah (the lowlands); and Joash was in charge of the stores of [olive] oil. ²⁹ Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon; Shaphat the son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys. ³⁰ Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels; and Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys. ³¹ Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these were overseers and stewards of the property which belonged to King David.

Counselors

³² Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor and advisor, a man of understanding and wisdom, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended (tutored) the king’s sons.^{(B) 33} Ahithophel was counselor to the king; and Hushai the Archite was the king’s companion and friend. ³⁴ Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah and by Abiathar; and Joab was the commander of the king’s army.

David’s Address about the Temple

28 David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders (officials) of Israel, the leaders of the tribes, and the commanders of the divisions that served the king, and the commanders of thousands, and the commanders of hundreds, and the overseers of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, with the palace officers and the mighty men, and all the brave warriors. ² Then David the king rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brothers [in arms] and my people. I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and as a footstool for our God, and I prepared materials for the building. ³ But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My Name (Presence), because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ ⁴ However, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all in my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the leader; and in the house (tribe) of Judah he chose the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ Of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. ⁶ He said to me, ‘Solomon your son shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be a son to Me, and I will be a father to him. ^7 [c]I will establish his kingdom forever if he loyally and continually obeys My commandments and My ordinances, as is done today.’ ⁸ Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek after all the commandments of the Lord your God so that you may possess the good land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons after you forever.

⁹ “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but ^[d]if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Consider this carefully, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be courageous and strong and do it.”

¹¹ Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan for the porch of the temple, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner rooms, and for the place for the [ark and its] mercy seat; ¹² and the plan of all that he had in ^[e]mind, for the courts of the house of the Lord, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the storerooms of the house of God and for the storerooms for the dedicated gifts and offerings; ¹³ the plan for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service in the house of the Lord and for all the utensils for service in the house of the Lord; ¹⁴ for the golden utensils, the weight of gold and silver for all the gold and silver articles for every kind of service; ¹⁵ and the weight of gold for the golden lampstands and their golden lamps, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps; and the weight of silver for the silver lampstands, with the weight of each lampstand and its lamps according to the use of each lampstand; ¹⁶ the gold by weight for each table of showbread, and the silver for the tables of silver; ¹⁷ and the forks, the basins, and the pitchers of pure gold; and for the golden bowls with the weight for each bowl; and for the silver bowls with the weight for each bowl; ¹⁸ and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the model of the chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the Lord’s covenant.

¹⁹ “All this,” said David, “the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the work and details [to be done] according to this plan.”

²⁰ Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and take action; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor ^[f]abandon you [but will guide you in the construction] until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. ²¹ And see, [you have] the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the service of God’s house, and every willing, skillful man will be with you in all the kinds of work for any kind of service. Also the officers and all the people will be entirely at your command.”